Traveling businesspeople who need the power of their office
computers on the road can find it in the newest high-performance,
feature-rich notebook computers. Outstripping their full-sized 486
desktop brothers, these small machines have faster processors,
larger hard drives, more memory, more flexibility and greater
capabilities than many 2- or 3-year-old desktop PCs.

High-performance notebooks--characterized by their 8-by-11-inch
size--have multimedia capabilities and include CD-ROM drives,
stereo speakers, speedy built-in modems, color display screens, a
variety of ports for PC cards and connectors, microphone and phone
jacks, and docking capability once you're back at your office.
Some have an "open architecture" that allows you to build
the notebook to your personal specifications.

Except for ultra-thin models, extra features tend to add bulk
and weight to portable computers, even though many notebooks
incorporate slots for interchangeable components such as CD-ROM,
floppy disk and backup drives, and extra battery packs.

Although you can, of course, leave some of the components at
home, most mobile entrepreneurs need multimedia versions to take
their offices with them, especially if they are making
presentations or videoconferencing. But remember, extra cables and
plugs add pounds to your luggage--and dollars to your total.

If it's speed you're after, the new notebooks'
"brains" work faster than ever, many offering 150 MHz. To
power that speed, rechargeable batteries provide two to six hours
of operation. Some notebooks have a "sleep" mode to save
power; most have a backup battery.

Prices for high-performance notebooks have not decreased with
their growing popularity: Standard models still hover around
$2,500; those with greater speed and muscle cost up to $5,000.
(Remember, street prices can be hundreds of dollars lower.)

Almost every notebook on the market is powered by Intel's
Pentium chip, which is swifter than a 486 but uses more battery
power; hence the expansion bay for an extra pack. Most of the new
models have upgradable RAM for more memory and can use several
applications simultaneously.

Lower-end models, such as AST's Ascentia P series, are
expandable to 40MB RAM. Higher-end models, including
Panasonic's CF-25 series, are expandable to 72MB RAM, and the
Hitachi Mx series to
80MB RAM. The more memory you add, however, the higher the
price.

Multimedia, which combines video, audio and graphics for taking
your show on the road, is accommodated in notebook computers
through multiple stereo speakers or ports to connect external
speakers, removable CD-ROM drives, and ports to hook up to large
monitors or screens.

Display screens are larger this year, and it's rare to find
a high-performance notebook screen smaller than 11.3 inches; in
fact, many have 12.1-inch screens. Trackpads, usually located front
and center, are more popular on the new notebooks, although some
have a port for connecting an external mouse.

Docking capabilities--relatively new for notebook computers but
becoming commonplace--allow you to plug in to your full-sized
desktop components once you've brought your notebook home. If
desk space is at a premium, a dockable high-performance notebook
takes up less room and does double duty for road warriors when
it's time to upgrade or replace your desktop hard drive without
getting rid of your standard keyboard and monitor.

Shopping for a notebook can be simple if you:

determine how much speed and performance you need--the faster
the processor, the higher the price.

take the time to comparison shop. Ask to see the entire line of
a series, then discuss lower- and higher-end versions with
salespeople before coming to a decision.

make a list of must-have features, then add like-to-have
features depending on your budget.

decide how fast you need your CD-ROM drive to be--the faster it
is, the more expensive.